Fiat Strada has been in the market since 1998 to date. It is one of the most reliable and economical subcompact pickup trucks in the market. This supermini coupe utility car is also practical, durable, and performs outstandingly. But what are some of the surprising facts about the Fiat Strada?
Surprising facts about the Fiat Strada include the Fiat Strada being rebadged in Mexico as Ram 700, Fiat Strada not being marketed in the USA and Canada, and the second generation Fiat Strada only featuring a petrol engine and not a diesel engine. What’s more, it is vital to note that the most powerful Fiat Strada engine is the 1.3L Firefly I4 petrol engine.
What are the surprising facts about the Fiat Strada?
Fiat Strada is made in Brazil
Even though Fiat Strada is a model from Fiat, it is not made in Italy like most Fiat models. On the other hand, the Fiat Strada is made in Brazil. This pickup truck is manufactured by Fiat Automoveis in Brazil. This plant is located in Betim, Brazil. It is also produced in Rosslyn, South Africa.
Fiat Strada is not marketed in the USA and Canada
North Americans are known to love pickup trucks. However, it is very puzzling that this car is not marketed in either Canada or the USA. On the contrary, it is marketed in Mexico and all over the world. So, if you look for Fiat Strada in the USA, you may be astonished to come across just a few models.
Fiat Strada replaced Fiat 147 City and Fiorino pickup trucks
In 1998, Fiat Strada was introduced as the cargo member of the “178 Project.” This car was launched to replace the Fiat 147 city and Fiorino pickup truck. It is also vital to note that the Fiat City was the pickup version of the Fiat Fiorino.
Unlike in Brazil where the Fiat Strada was launched in 1998, this car was launched in Europe in 1999.
Fiat Strada is in the second generation
Despite Fiat Strada being in the market for more than two decades, it has only had two generations. The first generation Fiat Strada has been in existence from 1998 to 2021. On the contrary, the second generation is pretty new as it has been in existence since 2020.
Fiat Strada was rebadged by Ram Trucks in the Mexican market as the Ram 700
For many years, Fiat Strada was being sold around the world using its real name, “Fiat Strada.” Nevertheless, this changed in 2015 when Ram Trucks rebadged this car for the Mexican market. So, instead of calling it Fiat Strada, it was renamed to Ram 700.
The second-generation Fiat Strada has a larger Fiat front logo than the first-generation model
If you look closely, you will notice that the first-generation Fiat Strada model defers from the second-generation Fiat model in many ways. One of the main differences between these two generations is the logo. The latest model comes with a large silver-colored Fiat front logo, which replaces the small Italian flag placed in the grid and LED light clusters on the first generation model.
The first and second-generation Fiat models are based on different platforms
Like most cars on the market, every Fiat Strada generation has its platform. The first generation Fiat Strada comes with the Project 178 platform, while the second generation Fiat Strada comes with the MC-P Modular platform.
The second generation Fiat Strada only comes with a petrol engine
You will also be perplexed to find out that the second-generation Fiat Strada only comes with petrol engines and doesn’t offer diesel engines. This model has two engine options; the 1.3-liter Firefly inline-4 petrol engine and the 1.4-liter Firefly inline-4 petrol engine.
FAQ
Is Fiat Strada a good car?
It depends on what you’re looking for. The Fiat Strada is a nice subcompact pickup truck as it’s excellent for carrying people and goods. It is also reliable, economical, and cheap to maintain. On the other hand, it is not ideal for those looking for a large, powerful, comfortable, and high-performance pickup truck.
How fast is the Fiat Strada?
The latest Fiat Strada comes with only two engines; the 1.3-liter and 1.4-liter Firefly engines. The fastest and most powerful engine is the 1.3-liter Firefly inline-4 petrol engine. It also delivers up to 109 hp @6250 rpm and 99 lb-ft of torque @3500 rpm. Besides, it also has a top speed of 103 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 12.4 seconds.
What are the common problems with the Fiat Strada?
Fiat Strada is an exceptional subcompact pickup truck with lots of fantastic features. Nonetheless, like many cars, this unit also comes with several problems that interested buyers ought to know about. Some of these problems include electrical issues, engine problems, steering problems, starting issues, and engine jerking.
So, before you invest in this small pickup truck, you should be prepared to deal with most of the above problems.
Is Fiat Strada a good daily driver?
Yes, Fiat Strada is a good daily driver when compared to other cars in its class. This is because it has an outstanding fuel efficiency rating. Additionally, it is very compact, meaning that driving it in traffic or parking it in public car parks will be easy. Moreover, it does not register many problems, therefore, it won’t break down easily.
Which cars are similar to Fiat Strada?
Despite Fiat Strada is one of the best subcompact pickup trucks on the market, it faces stiff competition from several cars. Some of its closest competitors are Honda Ridgeline, Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Ford Maverick.
It is crucial to note that most of these pickup trucks are slightly larger and perform way better than the Fiat Strada. What’s more, they are pretty costlier than the Fiat Strada.
Conclusion
After looking at some of the interesting facts about the Fiat Strada, you can happily own this car knowing a few things about it. Regardless, Fiat Strada is one of the best subcompact pickup trucks on the market. It is reliable, economical, practical, and affordable.